Coach Maurice announces Kane missed today’s practice because he was meeting with team doctors.
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 5, 2015
Reports of Kane playing hurt surfaced yesterday, when NHL on NBC insider Bob McKenzie said the Winnipeg forward may have been playing with a “significant injury.” That speculation has since been confirmed by Jets head coach Paul Maurice.
But the injury is only part of the story.
Kane, who has only appeared in 37 of Winnipeg’s 53 games this year -- he missed significant time earlier with a foot ailment -- was parked during Tuesday’s OT loss in Vancouver as a “coach’s decision.” Later, various outlets said that decision came after Kane violated the team’s dress code upon arriving at Rogers Arena, and the Jets confirmed the 23-year-old was indeed a healthy scratch, not sat because of injury.
That was followed by today’s reports that Winnipeg was taking calls on Kane.
So, what now?
-- If Kane is seriously hurt and requires surgery, it would throw a bucket of cold water on current trade rumblings. It’s hard to imagine any team taking the gamble of not knowing when Kane would be fit to play, and surgery would all but push a potential trade to the offseason.
-- If Kane does elect to have surgery, the Winnipeg Free Press figures it’d be “evident the player and team are at odds,” noting that “surgery has been an option Kane has elected to forgo to this point,” and “he’s played with pain and been effective.” In short, Kane has one card left to play: Go under the knife and shut things down.
-- Tough to get a read on what Maurice is thinking, but consider the following:According to Maurice, he has not made a decision on Kane’s status even if the doctor says he can play
— Sara Orlesky (@saraorlesky) February 5, 2015#NHLJets Maurice dealt with it on “my end so much it can be dealt with.”
— Rick Ralph (@RickRalphTSN) February 5, 2015-- Finally, and perhaps obviously, there’s still no word if Kane will be available on Friday when the Jets face the Blackhawks.